Tidal engine



Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,903. H! J. SHA-NKLIN. m TIDAL ENGINE.

FILED MAR. 8. 192|.' 2 SHEETS-SHEET l,

' Mar. 6, 1923.

` H. 1. SHANKLIN.

TIDAL ENGINE.

FILED MAR. 8. 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2|v .jg 10 "QQ ll l 7l 0 o v o o LO- Q O Q 24 l LQ. A i Il 1Z 15 25 ,1.9 j Z7 15 z5 f. o l o o o @ff I,

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Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

1,447,96 eArENror-rica.

nADDoNJAooBUsnANxLIN,,or sfr. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.'

TIDAL nNelNn Application legd- March S, 1921;` Sei-iai Nfo. 450,529. f

To all `who-m, t may concern.: i

Beit knownthat I, HADDON JACOB Eil-Linn- LIN, a subject-0f .the Kingk of Greatl Britain, and resident ofthe city-of St. Johmin the Province of New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements` lin Tidal Engines, of which the following is .a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tidal engines, and the objects of the invention are to provide a simple and effective device by which power may be derived from the current of the tide.

Further objects are generally to improve and simplify the construction of such a device and better adapted to perform the functions required of it.

It consists essentially of the improved construction hereinafter described in detail in the accompanying specification and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation.

Figure t is a transverse sectional elevation.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail through the superposed pulleys showing the spring-actuated dogs.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings:

A indicates a shaft suitably journalled in the bearings 10 and 11 provided on standards 12 and 13 which extend upwardly from a suitable base member B, which comprises a rectangular frame 141,'cross pieces l5 and 16 and longitudinally extending portions 17.

The shaft A carriesa plurality of propelling blades C extending longitudinally of the same and angularly set with respect Vto the axis of the shaft A, each of these blades being rectangular in shape and being con nected at substantially the centre of the shaft A, the blades extending radially with respect to each other at their central point of attachment and having their ends so located as to form chords of arcs of a circle concentric with the axis of the shaft A.

A pulley 18 is provided on the shaft A .from which a cord or rope 19 extends around suitable', pulleys 20. rIhe propelling blades are vpractically placed in such a position that they will be subjectto the movement ofthe tidal water which will rotate the same.

, Ehe base member B is held down on the bed of the. river by meansof the anchor or weight 22, and a' standard 23 is rotatably carried by the anchor andl extending upwardlyfl engages-'and retains the body or frame supporting the shaft A by means of the clamps 24. The standard between the base and the anchor carriesv a pulley 25 rign idly mounted thereon anda lower pulley; 26 loosely mounted thereon. The upper pulley 25 is equipped with dogs 27 designed to engage the lower pulley when rotating tothe right and drive the pulley 26 with it, but disengage on reverse rotation so as not to transmit any motion to the pulley 26, and, therefore, affords a means of stopping the feed of power when the tide turns. A rope or chain 28 engages the pulley 26 and transmits the motion to the mechanism designed to be actuated.

In use the water will impinge on the blades C and the motion will be transmitted through the pulley 18, pulleys 20' and rope 19 to the top and rigidly mounted pulley 25. The dogs 27 will then engage notches formed on the loose pulley 26 and drive the pulley 26 which will transmit motion through the rope or chain 28 to the mechanism to be actuated.

Should the tide turn, the body or frame supporting the shaft A and pivotally carried by means of the clamps 24 by! the standard 23 will pivot 0n its fulcrum. This pivotal movement will not be hindered by the dogs 27 since the latter will be caused to disengage the pulley 26 on account of the pulley 25 being reversed. After the body of the engine has been reversed, the plates will be rotated in the same direction as originally, and the dogs being forced back into engage ment with the wheel 26, the motion will again be fed to the mechanism.

As many changes; could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention within the scope of the claims, constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A tidal engine comprising a propeller shaft, a rectangular base supporting the shaft, a plurality of longitudinally extendingr blades thereon, each centrally secured to the propeller shaft, and radially extending with respect to each other at their point of attachment, and having their ends so located as to form chords of arcs of a circle concen-y tric With the axis of the said shaft, an anchor below the frame, a standard on the anchor pivotallyl carrying the frame, and a pulley rigidly mounted on the standard designed to transmit the motion received.

2. T he tidal engine claimed in claim l, in which a second pulley is loosely mounted on the standard beneath the rigid pulley, and means on the first pulley designed to engage the second pulley.

3. A tidal engine comprising1 a propeller shaft, a frame supporting the same, a plurality of longitudinally extending plates thereon each centrally secured to the propeller shaft and radially extending With respect to each other at their point of attachnient, and having their ends so located as to form chords of arcs of a circle concentric to they axis of said shaft, means pivotally carrying the frame, and an anchor below the frame.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand inv the presence of two Witnesses.

HADDON JACOB SHANKLIN.

"Witnesses:

ARTHUR KENT MELICK, STEPHEN W. PALMER. 

